“Three, two, one! Open the door!” On the first day of the seventh lunar month, the chairman of the Keelung joint clan association for people surnamed Zhang, Liao, and Jian opens the “shrine door” (a.k.a. “the gate to the Underworld”) at Laodagong Temple to welcome ghosts (known popularly as the “Good Brothers”) to come into the mundane world and accept offerings from ordinary people. This marks the opening of the month-long Keelung Midsummer Ghost Festival.
In an age of consumerism, an infinite array of cutting-edge products jostle for our attention, but we remain fascinated by the unassuming beauty of objects that used to bolster the daily lives of our rural communities. While not all are suitable for modern ways of life, their beauty, cultural meanings, and ingenuity continue to offer inspiration to designers today.
In ancient times, emperors would appoint envoys to travel the land investigating corruption and overseeing relief after natural disasters. Wangye worship in Taiwan features similar tours of inspection. Every three years Wen Wangye, the deity who presides at Donglong Temple in Donggang, Pingtung, is joined by five Wangye from the Heavenly Court. On behalf of the Jade Emperor, they conduct inspections, bestow blessings, and avert disasters before returning to Heaven.
Slender, elegant bamboo thrives all year round. The watercolor painting House Surrounded by Bamboo, by the famous Taiwanese artist Ran In-ting (Lan Yinding, 1903–1979), depicts life at a rural dwelling in a bamboo forest.
Taiwan has abundant bamboo forests, and in traditional society bamboo was an essential part of daily life. With advances in technology, the utilization of bamboo has evolved from the simple to the modern. One could even say that it has given rise to a particular lifestyle.
“Hot” is no doubt the word that best describes the summer of 2024. While the planet finds itself sweating under the blazing sun, a feeling of fraternity is spreading across the globe like wildfire. As the host of the first Olympic games since the end of the Covid-19 pandemic, Paris is the center of the world’s ardent attention.
At the Green Destinations Global Conference 2023, held in Tallin, Estonia, not only were all six of the Taiwanese national scenic areas that participated named in the Top 100 Green Destinations, they were all selected for the “2023 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories” list. This marked a dazzling milestone in the development of sustainable tourism in Taiwan.
The freedom and vibrancy of Taiwan’s publishing scene have not only infused the comic industry with a steady stream of fresh energy, but have also recently enticed many international comic artists to publish their works in Taiwan. Some have even crafted “Taiwan” stories from a global perspective.
When composing a Line message, you can express your feelings with a “Mei Mei” sticker that says, “You don’t understand my style.” The drinks tumbler in your hand may be a co-branded item combining the Bugcat “Capoo” with a hand-shaken drinks bar brand. Or as you browse the web on your phone you may come across a hilarious short video of “Shaogao.” In these ways, “character intellectual property” (character IP) is making its way into our daily lives.
Many comic-book fans take advantage of the two days a week (Fridays and Saturdays) when Graphic Life Studio is open to the public to come and visit. There they can see Zhou Jian-xin, illustrator of Son of Formosa, at work and maybe get an autograph in a book purchased on-site.
A visit to a group of wooden buildings on Linsen Road in Taichung City’s West District will bring back childhood memories and teach you about the latest developments in Taiwanese comic books. This is the National Taiwan Museum of Comics (NTMC).
